Folding square.



J. 0. OSTMAN.

FOLDING SQUARE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1910. 1,01 9,693. Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

WITNESSES: I INVENTOR 5% 3&5121 1? 0. 0.5mm

Q 8. 7 aQMI Y 6 By ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH cm. WASHINGTON. h. C-

JOSEPH O. OSTMAN, OF HANCOCK, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING SQUARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

Application filed March 17, 1910. Serial No. 549,824.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn O. Osraux, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hancock, in the county of Houghton, State 01 Michigan, have .invented certain new and useful Improvements in l olding Squares, of which the following is a specification.

.My invention is an improvement in folding squares, and consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and easily operated device of the character specified consisting of sections which may be folded on each other, or extended into operative position, and which may be securely locked in either position.

Referring to the drawings forming a part hereof: Figure 1 is a side view of the improvement in open position; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of one section of the square when the square is in closed position; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view of a modified form of the improvement in a combined square and level; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of one of the sections; and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 consists of a handle section or bar 1, and a blade section 2, the lat ter being provided on its faces with a scale 3 in the usual manner. The handle section may be of any suitable material, as may also the blade, the former in the present case consisting of a bar having a longitudinal slot 45 for receiving the blade sect-ion. At one end the bar is provided with a reinforcing case 4 of metal, which as shown covers a portion of the sides, the end, and a portion of the edge thereof, and the bar is cut away within the case, as shown at 5, to receive the end of the blade and the locking mechanism to be described.

The blade section is provided at one end with a circular head 9 formed by circular lateral enlargements, the head being received in the cut away portion of the bar and pivoted to the case by a rivet 12. The outer edge of the blade adjacent to the head is cut away to form a notch, as shown at 15, and when the blade is in open position the notch engages a tongue 16 of the bar resting against the end of the case and the blade is held in a position at right angles to the handle. a

The head of the blade section is provided with a plurality of recesses or notches 17 arranged at an angle o't 90 with respect to each other, and a pawl or latch 18 is pivoted in the case at 19 and is provided with a nose or lug 20 for engaging a notch. A spring comprising an eye 22 and two diverging arms 23 and 2-1- is secured in the case by a pin 25 passing through the eye, and one arm 23 engages the pawl, while the other, 21, engages the edge of the ease, the spring acting normally to press the pawl into engagement with a notch. The notches 17 are so arranged that the blade is held either in the closed position shown in Fig. 9 or in the open position shown in Fig. 1, and the relative width of the bar and blade is such that, when in closed position, the outer edge of the blade is flush with the edge of the bar or handle.

The case is provided with an opening 26 in its side wall, and the pawl with a lip 27 extending through the opening, so that the pawl may be disengaged from the notches by pressing outwardly on the lip. hen the pawl is disengaged, the blade may be swung freely on its pivot, but when the pawl is in engagement with the notch the blade is firmly locked in one of the two positions n'ientioned.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4-, 5 and (5 the blade 28 is provided with a central longitudinal slot or opening 29 and at one end with a circular head 30 having a central opening and having also a plurality of spaced slots 31 which extend along chords of the periphery of the head. The handle section 32 is in the form of a bar similar to the bar 1 just described, and the head 30 is pivoted between the side walls 34-. of the slot by means of a rivet 35 passing through the side walls and the central opening of the head. A block or bar 36 is arranged be tween the side walls at the rear edge of the case and secured in place by rivets 37. The block is rounded out at one end, as at 38, to fit the head, and is provided with a longitudinal recess 39 which alincs with the slots 31 when the blade section is in certain positions.

It will be observed that the head of the blade is eccentric to the blade and the diameter of the head is approximately the same as the width of the bar, while the body portion of the blade is of lesser width. The head projects beyond the inner edge of the blade, as shown in Fig. 5, and the inner edge of the blade rests against the edge of the block when the blade is closed. A bolt, pawl, or latch is slidable in the recess 39 and is provided with a projection or linger piece 41 extending through a slot- 42 in the side wall of the reinforcing case l6 for convenience in moving the latch. The latch is adapted to engage one of the slots 31 to hold the blade in either the closed position shown in Fig. 5, the angular position shown in Fig. 4, or in alinement with the handle section. The blade is provided near its free end with a kerf 43 for engagement by the thumb nail to open the blade, and the adjacent edges of the .bar are cut away, as at 44, to permit access to the kerf. The reinforcing cases 4- and 46 are secured to their respective bars by rivets 47, and the case shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is open at its outer end to permit the blade to swing into aline mentwith the handle. The handle 32 is provided with any usual or desired form of level indicated at 4-8 in Fig. 4.

In the operation of the embodiment last described the blade is moved into the desired position and locked by the latch. The blade may be arranged in alinementwith the handle when a long level is desired, at right angles thereto when a square is wanted, or in folded position for a short level, or for storage.

While the sections have been described as handle and blade sections, this is merely for convenience in description, the actual construction being a section having a slot, and another section movable into and out of the slot, the sections being pivoted together at one end.

I claim:

1. A folding square comprising a plurality of sections, one of the said sections having a longitudinal slot in its side edge for receiving the other section said first named section having a recess at one end of the slot and the other section having a head pivoted in the recess, said head having spaced radial slots, a bar hinged at one end in the recess and having a catch at the oppo site end. for engaging the radial slots to hold the sections in adjusted position, and a spring pressing the bar toward the head, said bar having a lateral lug adjacent to the head, and the section having a slot through which the lug extends.

2. A folding square comprising a plurality of sections, one of the said sections having a longitudinal slot in its side edge for receiving the other section said first named section having a recess at one end of the slot and the other section having a head pivoted in the recess, said head having spaced radial slots, and a catch movable in the recess toward and from the head and engaging the slots to hold the sections in adjusted position, said catch having a lateral lug, and the section a slot through which the lug extends.

JOSEPH O. OSTMAN.

Vitnesses J OHN KtisKILA, SAM JUNTTILA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

